UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 23, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We have to support each other (RTK)
• Montenegro to consider increasing number of soldiers in KFOR (Albanian Post)
• IMF: Kosovo with lowest per capita income in Europe, according to purchasing power (Reporteri)
• Government signed memorandum for creation of new jobs for non-majority communities (media)
• Kosovo joins northern sub-group of European region in World Customs Organization (Klan)
• Konjufca and Basha meet at Council of Europe (media)
• Balla and Svecla visit joint police training center (RTK)
• UK ambassador donates a drone and other professional equipment to TAK (media)
• Serbian nationalist messages with map of Kosovo in Srebrenica (Express)

Serbian Language Media:

• Due to ban on importing Serbian goods in Kosovo, damage is about 150 million euros (KoSSev)
• Specialist Court extends detention of Shala for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• Nemec: Debate on Serbian elections aimed at initiating independent investigation (N1)
• Brnabic meets with Braathu, Hill (Tanjug)

Albanian Language Media:

Joint statement of leaders of Western Balkans 6 (media) 
Ulutas: KFOR is ready to respond to any threat (media)  
Osmani meets Szynuog, discuss cooperation between Kosovo and EU institutions (media)  
EU: Agreement is binding in its entirety (Koha)
Gervalla: I am not critical of the EU, but of the bureaucrats within it (TeVe1)
Lajcak talks about dialogue with representatives of opposition in Serbia (media)
Kurti remembers 26th anniversary of Serbian attack against Jashari family (media)
Rama about dinner with Kurti and Vucic: Communication was positive (Klan)
Tahiri: Joint conclusion that elections in Serbia were not free (Gazeta Express) 

Serbian Language Media:

Western Balkan leaders committed to European standards (N1)
Vucic: I discussed Pristina's announcement with O'Brien (Tanjug)
Hill on abolishing dinar in Kosovo: Avoid such unnecessary surprises and unilateral acts (RTS, media)
Rasic says payment transactions issue to be resolved, no reason for fear (Radio KIM)
Petition to recall mayor submitted in Leposavic as well (KoSSev)
KFOR Commander met representatives of religious communities, discuss their role in promoting peace and tolerance (KoSSev)
Election Commission assigns mandates to new Serbian MPs (media)
Vucic says he expects new government by March 15 (BETA, N1)

International Media:

BIRN Fact-Check: EU-Funded Projects Suffer Most from ‘Measures’ against Kosovo (Balkan Insight)
Serbian Environmentalists Alarmed by Renewed Talk of Rio Tinto Mine (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: In order to integrate region economically, security threats must be stopped (media)
• O'Brien warns of consequences for countries that try to block their neighbors (media)
• Koopman: Condition in growth plan is not to block neighbors (media)
• Kurti: 'Open Balkan' is not European, the EU is sufficient for the Balkans (RTK)
• Kurti: The EU, our destiny and purpose (media)
• Kearns thanks Cameron for sharing UK government's knowledge on 9/24 attack in Banjska (Reporteri)
• Collection of signatures for removal of Albanian mayors in north ends (RFE)
• Police raid in Zvecan (Kallxo)

Serbian Language Media:

• Raska-Prizren Diocese: Appropriation of Holy Virgin of Hvosno Church - erasing of historic and spiritual identity of SOC and Serbian people in Kosovo (media)
• Dacic: I am satisfied with discussions in Uganda, no changes for Serbian interests (Tanjug)
• Signing of petition for removal of mayors in all four northern municipalities completed (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Petition to recall mayor in Mitrovica North submitted (KoSSev)
• Ugljanin: No legal framework for overturning decision on allocating land to Kosovo MIA (KiM radio, Danas, KoSSev)
• NBS: Revoke measures preventing distribution of dinars in Kosovo (N1)
• Free labor market from 1 March to be established between Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, says Vucic (Kosovo Online)
• Von Cramon: In Council of Europe there are principles, Pristina lacks political willingness (Radio KIM, Slobodno srpski)

International:

• EU growth plan potential 'game changer' for Western Balkans, official says (Reuters)
• Is There Hope for Ethnic Coexistence in War-Traumatised Kosovo? (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Balkan leaders to meet today in Skopje (media) 
Kurti meets with O'Brien and Balkans’ leaders: We talked about the EU enlargement plan (media) 
Lajcak: It is time to refocus on next steps of dialogue (RTK) 
EU does not give government right to pay electricity debt of north from Development Fund (Koha) 
Decision on Decan Monastery and Association, Germany’s conditions for Kosovo’s CoE membership (Telegrafi) 
Sandulovic: What crime it is to put flowers on grave of a murdered girl (RTK) 

Serbian Language Media:

Leaders of the WB and EU in Skopje, expected topic and the banning of the dinar in Kosovo (RTS)
Serbian President presents “Leap into the future” plan (N1)
Vucevic: The military aid received by Pristina represents a danger for Serbia (Tanjug, TV Prva)
Office for KiM: The Serbs' existence and security in Kosovo threatened (Tanjug)
The Ministry of Culture seek an international reaction due to the seizure of the church in Kosovo (Tanjug, media)
Serbian Democracy collected signatures to revoke the decision on the allocation of land (Danas)
Vucinic: The signing of the petition completed in Z. Potok, more votes than necessary collected (Kosovo Online)
The collection of signatures for the removal of Mayor Leposavic completed (RTS)
Serbia refused to play against Kosovo (KiM radio)

International Media:

The Kosovo Central Bank Controversy (thepavlovictoday.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti in Davos: Kosovo, a success story (media)
• Osmani meets Barbano, discuss security developments and rule of law (Klan)
• Gervalla: Lajcak failed dialogue process, entered without strategy and vision (Reporteri)
• EU requests clarifications from Kosovo regarding CBK's decision (media)
• Kearns: Serbia's path is increasingly authoritarian (RTK)
• Collection of signatures for dismissal of Zvecan mayor begins today (Koha)
• Zvecan mayor: Petition unfair, elections were democratic and accepted (Express)
• Hoti: Deepening of crisis, consequence of government’s inadequate measures (media)
• Serbian lawyer who visited Jashari family graves Thursday, says he was detained for 4 hours by Serbian BIA (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stano: EC analyzes and seeks clarification on Pristina’s decision on payment transactions (Tanjug)
• Petkovic: Belgrade started with diplomatic talks to prevent termination of payment transactions (N1, FoNet)
• Mijacic: 87.000 beneficiaries in Kosovo dependent on Serbian budget, implementation of regulation to induce poverty (KoSSev)
• Stojanovic on ban of dinar, official Belgrade’s reaction (Radio KIM)
• Zvecan residents expect elections to choose their own representatives (Kosovo Online)
• Swimming for Holy Cross organized at Gazivode lake (KoSSev)

International:

• Kosovo’s Ruling Party Steers Capital Expenditure to its Own Municipalities (Balkan Insight)
• Evidence-Tampering Denied at Trial for Kosovo Serb Politician’s Murder (Balkan Insight)
• Kosovo Institutions Silent on Enforcing Euro-Only Rule in Serb Areas (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Kosovo together with its allies will stop any possible attack from Serbia (media)
Bislimi: Only Euro is used for banking transactions in Kosovo (RTK)
Purchase of weapons from USA, focus of meeting between Osmani and Hovenier (RTK)
KSF members travel to UK to train Ukrainian troops (Klan Kosova) 
Montgomery: Purchasing Javelin system, a right decision (VoA in Albanian) 
Kurti meets "Philips" and “Meta” representatives in Davos (media) 
Tahiri: If Kurti approves Association draft statute, he will have problem staying in Kosovo (Telegrafi)
PSD: We turned down AAK’s offer to join the coalition (Kallxo) 
Serbian attorney in Prekaz: No one will stop us on the path of reconciliation (RFE) 
Roth publishes letter of 24 senior MPs, tells Vucic “you are totally isolated” (media) 

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic met von der Leyen (Tanjug)
Dacic: Serbia not giving up on principles of international law, UN Charter (Tanjug, media)
Lavrov: EU rewriting Belgrade-Pristina agreements to deprive Serbs of rights (BETA, N1)
Vucic on banning dinars in Kosovo, EU’s request to permit Svecla visit southern Serbia (N1, BETA, Tanjug)
Drecun: Payment transactions termination biggest threat to Kosovo Serbs yet (media)
Barbano: EULEX monitored petition, everyone exercised their rights in safe and organized manner (Kosovo Online, social media)
Rohde: Collection of signatures process should commence promptly in two other northern municipalities (Kosovo Online, social media)
Vuksanovic: Collection of signatures to recall mayor starts in Zvecan (Kosovo Online, KoSSev)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 18, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti thanks Prime Minister of Bulgaria for active support (media)
• Maqedonci: In addition to USA, Kosovo also discussing with other countries about purchase of weapons (media)
• The EU appeals to Serbia: Allow Svecla’s visit to the Valley (RTK)
• Szunyog: Elections in the north should be held as soon as possible, participation of Serbs should not be conditioned (Koha)
• Rasmussen: Brussels has an obligation to integrate Kosovo and Serbia into EU, it is basis for peace and stability (VoA)
• U.S. Senator Ricketts meets ambassador Dugolli (Express)
• Opposition with resolution demands reduction of energy price, LVV against (media)
• Krasniqi demands full investigation and responsibility for explosion in Trepca (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian List: By banning dinars Serbs would be expelled from Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Krtinic refutes Ugljanin’s allegations: He told us yesterday that everything is fine (KoSSev)
• Collection of signatures to recall mayors in Mitrovica North and Leposavic enters second day (Kosovo Online)
• Zeqiri: Sports hall to be signatures collection spot, collection may start as of tomorrow (KoSSev)
• Vuksanovic says local authorities in Zvecan obstruct initiation of petition to recall mayor (Kosovo Online)
• SNV on possible termination of payment transactions (KoSSev)
• Sekulic: Termination of payment transactions with central Serbia would cause humanitarian disaster (Kosovo Online)
• Covic: Announcements from Pristina on terminating payment transactions additional pressure on Serbs aiming to drive them out of Kosovo (RTS)
• Office for KiM: Two returnee’s houses in Istok robbed (media)
• Swimming for Holy Cross at Gazivode lake to be organized by House of Culture (KoSSev)
• EP debates Serbian elections, Bilcik also expresses criticism (N1)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti in Davos: Security of region, essential for European security (RTK) 
Croatia offers support for CoE membership, Vucic complains to Lajcak about Kurti's policies (Koha) 
Osmani: The Kosovo Army is getting stronger (Koha) 
AAK, NISMA reach agreement on pre-election coalition (media)  
Petition to dismiss Mitrovica North mayor could end on Thursday (Express)  
Signing of petition by Serb citizens triggers reactions (Koha) 
Rasic: Signing of petition in the north, an expected step (RTK)  
Hetemi and Ugljanin: Petition is being influenced by Serbian List (media) 
12 miners injured in Trepca (Radio Free Europe)  
Bislimi: We allocated €3 mil for Presevo Valley this year (Lajmi)  

Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Kurti attempting to destroy dialogue, expel Serbs (Tanjug)
Vucic: I had many meetings, position of Serbs in Kosovo discussed with Lajcak (Tanjug, media)
Serbs in Kosovo face threats on daily basis, Vucic tells Lajcak (media, social media)
Lajcak believes Pristina’s announcements on terminating payment transaction will not lead to dangerous situation, hopes for solution (N1, BETA, KoSSev)
Kosovo Central Bank: As of February 1, Euro is only currency for cash transactions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Democracy calls for signing petition against decision to allocate land parcel to Kosovo Interior Ministry (Radio KIM)
Traditional swimming for Holy Cross at Gazivode lake canceled (KoSSev, media)

International Media:

Kosovo North Serbs Collect Signatures to Dismiss Their ‘Unwanted’ Mayors (Balkan Insight)
Balkan Migrant Route Still Active Despite Falling Numbers – Frontex (Balkan Insight)
Serbian opposition leader says secret service tortured and threatened him (The Guardian) 

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, January 17, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets member of Switzerland’s Federal Council, discuss terrorist attack in Banjska (Reporteri)
• Osmani: EU should urgently lift measures, unequal treatment is blow to credibility of dialogue process (Reporteri)
• Kurti remembers Ivanovic: His killers still roam free in Serbia (media)
• Signing of petition for Atiq’s dismissal begins (media)
• Osmani on petition for dismissal of mayors: Kosovo Laws allow this procedure (media)
• Svecla meets with Szunyog, discuss about the security situation in Kosovo (Koha)
• Russia strongly condemns purchase of "Javelins" by Kosovo (Koha)
• AAK: Decision on pre-election coalition with Nisma, today (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Pristina's moves a problem for any dialogue whatsoever (Tanjug)
• Who exactly was Oliver Ivanovic, according to Kosovo PM Kurti? (KoSSev)
• Vucic after meeting O’Brien: I believe that greater trust and cooperation with US is possible (Tanjug)
• Mitrovica North and Leposavic citizens about petitions (Kosovo Online)
• Lawyer: Detention of Sladjan Trajkovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Democracy: Kosovo Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports workers in the north should receive their salaries (Radio KIM)

Albanian Language Media:

Kurti meets with O'Brien: the USA is a precious friend and ally of Kosovo (media)
Osmani expects new recognitions of Kosovo (Reporteri)
Cramon: Borrell has not dealt with Kosovo enough (Telegrafi)
Two suspects related to the attack in North Mitrovica identified (Koha)
Bislimi meets Minister Hasani, discuss about the Albanians in the Valley (media)
Serbian Language Media:

Vucic: Announcement of payment transactions termination puts all processes in question (Tanjug)
Kosovo police said it identified two persons “of interest for investigation” in relation to explosion in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
Signing of petition to recall mayor in Mitrovic North commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)
Signing of petition to recall mayor in Leposavic commences today at 9.00 (Kosovo Online)
Vucevic: Pristina making survival of Serbs in Kosovo impossible (media)
Mijacic: By abolishing payment transactions, Pristina would prevent functioning of all Serbian institutions in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Euronews)
Serbian opposition holds new protest in Belgrade (N1)
KFOR donated food and clothing to families in need (Kosovo Online, social media)